Fire. Aim. Fire. Aim. Stop Thinking. Start Doing.
There is one overwhelming problem that we keep coming back to. It has made me question myself to the moon and back.
Only to realize that questioning is the problem in itself. The problem of problems is solved by not giving life to the problem.
The problem I am speaking of is thinking. Chatter in the skull.
One of the salient points of the main teachings of spiritualists and philosophers — we must learn to silence the mind.
“Silencing the mind” may seem impractical. Some imagine that it will take away from our material progress in the tangible 'real' world. I disagree.
Here’s why:
Preface
I will talk a lot about thinking in this letter. A majority of the time I am speaking of unconscious thought. Reactions, identifications, biases, beliefs, and negative energy that you are not aware of.
Consider this me making the distinction between thinking itself and thinking with a purpose. Conscious thought. Thinking about your thinking is conscious and implies presence and awareness. However, I am still of the mind that even conscious thought should be moderated.
Resisting What Is
The more productivity advice I hear the more I realize people are trying to escape the flow of nature. Force instead of flow. This had me in deep reflection this last week. My most productive points in life are the ones where I:
Follow my intuition & curiosity
Make the conscious decision to go all-in
Have experience that matches the challenge
Have clarity on execution of the project
Maintain momentum until completion
I don’t need productivity hacks and advice to pump out 3-4 hours of work.
Sometimes even 12 hours and sleepless nights.
When this scenario occurs, you cannot pull me away from my work. Work has become play that is more “fun” than any other activity I could participate in.
Nothing will stop me from making the idea in my head a reality.
This is a result of alignment. Everything falls into place. It “clicks.” The passion potion of neurochemicals floods your brain.
It all makes sense and you execute on the micro vision.
There was no resistance. There was no “second thought.” It happened because it was supposed to. Through the macro pursuit of mastery and improvement — my mind was open to the infinite opportunities that pass by my eyes on a daily basis.
Out of those infinite opportunities, one of them caught my attention. Raised my dopamine levels, signaling that I should pursue it, so I did. No thought. No mind. No ego, limiting beliefs, or paralysis by analysis had the chance of holding me back.
Some call this divine inspiration. I can dig it.
When you are connected to Source — by not thinking — you operate according to your destiny. Your talents surface and you cultivate strength through action.
This does not eliminate the utility of modern productivity hacks. This is an observation of multiple cycles of life that led to exponential growth. There is merit in structuring your work, but I would be lying if I said that my quality of work was higher when I tried to force it.
Mental Minimalism
The goal with all of this is to help you understand the concept of psychological time. The past, present, and future. By thinking (likely overthinking), you are split. Your being is in the present but your mind is in a familiar past or predictable future.
This is where all perceived problems exist. We live out the same painful, negative experiences because they are familiar. We have experienced them before. This causes negative reactions, biases, and beliefs.
Thinking — in this case — should be moderated to the best of your current ability and moderated further through lifelong practice. This is how you solve the problem of overthinking.
In the ideal scenario, our focus would remain on what is essential in the present moment, without excessive contemplation. Ideally, our cognitive processes would be minimally engaged. However, our society has been designed in a manner that necessitates conscious deliberation and formal education to operate effectively within its framework. While this is indeed the reality, we have been conditioned to believe that recovering from mistakes is an insurmountable challenge. Errors are often perceived as strictly negative and unacceptable. Consequently, this mindset leads to an inclination towards overthinking and a state of analysis paralysis.
This situation is exacerbated by the concept of psychological time, which can effectively enslave individuals within this societal construct. The widespread influence of the internet has played a significant role in perpetuating this phenomenon. A concerning result of this dynamic is the surge in mental health problems to an unprecedented level. In light of this, it becomes imperative to strike a balance between contemplation and action.
An optimal balance would involve a focus on the essentials of the present moment, while acknowledging the necessity of thoughtful consideration within our societal structure. It's crucial to challenge the belief that mistakes are irreversible setbacks, especially considering their pervasive negative impact on mental well-being. The rapid pace of the digital age has further fueled this cycle, contributing to a concerning rise in mental health challenges. Therefore, fostering equilibrium between thinking and action is vital for navigating this intricate landscape.
Note: Reading, writing, socializing, listening and creating is not synonymous with thinking. In fact, thinking often takes away from the quality of these experiences. Are you engaged with the present moment when you are speaking with someone? Or are you blocked from deep connection by creating problems in your head?
We must think strategically.
We must frame our focus via The Creation Hierarchy.
By writing out your vision, goals, values, and priorities — your subconscious will follow suit. You will naturally move in a positive direction when engaged with the present moment. This is where tools like visualization, affirmation, and other structured thinking methods become useful.
Not only can these be used to tap into the energy of a potential — not predictable — future, but they eliminate the need to think about the opportunities that align with you. They are a dot in your memory that allows pattern recognition to come into play. You will know (from a feeling of excitement) what you should pursue.
Again, this should be moderated so it does not lead to overthinking. Thinking is a tool, not a master. Doing should fill the majority of your days, a state of no-mind. Active engagement of your senses. Awestruck by the depth of the present moment.
Listening fully in conversations. Feeling fully when with your significant other. Awareness of the space around you. Connected to the radiating positive energy of our Source.
Understand that you do not need to think in order to do. Thinking often dampens the quality of doing. You need not think when you are connected to Infinite Intelligence — the root of all knowledge — that modern society has built on and used against us.
The Flow Formula
When you have framed your focus, meaning you can think less, you create the potential to tap into flow state. To flow with life instead of resist it. There are degrees of flow you can tap into. The present moment gives you instant access to a degree of flow. The act of creation gives you access to a higher degree of flow. Per my previous experience and research, these are the things that must come into play.
Curiosity – you must be open and attentive to what pulls and holds your attention in alignment with your interests.
Objective – a short to long term goal, project, or vision. Write this down and remind yourself of it, but do not overthink. The challenge of reaching this objective should be slightly above your skill level.
Clarity – goals toward your vision and tasks toward your goals. If you are unsure of the steps to take — you must educate yourself. Learn via the internet.
Intention – what you are stretching towards. You are stretching towards the challenge that the objective presents.
Action – simplified action. Do not think past the first step. Take the first step from a place of inspiration (created by the previous steps).
These are all implied through The Creation Hierarchy. If you have that in place, you need not do much thinking. Reminders, reflection, and refinement morning and night will do the trick.
Enjoy your weekend my friends,
Don Bird
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